The Stonehenge Excursion. — 39 
or a piece of glass or pottery was found in any of these tumuli, 
That was very strong evidence, if not a proof, that the tamuli 
belonged to an age when iron was, if not unknown, at any rate very 
rare. He could not therefore accept the theory which would give the 
monument to Roman or post-Roman times. There was nothing like 
it in any part of the world, but there were many stone circles which 
were developed into something like the idea of Stonehenge. If that 
were the case, surely it must belong to the same state of things as 
that which led to the formation of those other stone works. What 
did the tumuli contain? In all the periods of the world’s history 
there was a tendency to bury with the dead the instruments and 
weapons they used, from an idea that in the world to come those 
articles would be of use. That was still the practice in some places 
at the present time. In thirty-nine of those tumuli articles of 
bronze had been found, and therefore he believed that the monument 
belonged to what was known as the “ Bronze Age.” He did not wish 
however to dogmatise, and he confessed it was a subject upon 
which many opinions might legitimately be maintained. 
Mr. Cunnineron showed a number of stone chips he had just 
picked up from a rut adjoining, which he stated settled the disputed 
point as to whether or not the stones were dressed on the spot. 
The Rev. J. G. Joycr expressed his concurrence with Sir John 
Lubbock’s views, and the Rev. E. L. Barnwe tt strongly differed 
from the opinion of Mr. Parker that the stones were a Druidical 
temple, although he would not himself call it a funereal monu- 
ment. 
Mr. Liarvet stated that he had found somewhat similar erections 
in New Zealand, which were used for the burial of the dead, and 
suggested that the stones might be upon the site of some great battle, 
that the great chiefs who fell might have been buried in the tumuli, 
and that the temple had been erected in their memory. 
Mr. Srevens then made a few remarks as to the character and 
forms of several of the stones, and Mr. Masketyne pointed out the 
several varieties of stone to which he had called attention the previous 
evening. 
On leaving Stonehenge the party paid a “ flying visit ” to the old 
